Power BI Tips to Level Up Your Dashboards (Cheat Sheet Inside)
If you work with data, Power BI is probably your go-to tool for analytics and visualization. But how do you go from good to great? Whether you're just starting or building enterprise-level dashboards, these tips will make your reports faster, smarter, and more professional.
Data Modeling Tips
— Use a Star Schema
It simplifies relationships and improves performance.
— Trim the Fat
Import only required columns and rows to keep models lean.
— Create a Date Table
Calendar = CALENDAR(DATE(2015,1,1), DATE(2030,12,31))Don’t forget to mark it as the official date table.
Performance Hacks
— Turn Off Auto Date/Time
Go to File > Options > Data Load and uncheck it.
— Use Variables in DAX
Makes code cleaner and faster.
VAR TotalSales = SUM(Sales[Amount]) RETURN TotalSales— Leverage Performance Analyzer
Identify slow visuals and optimize them.
Visual Design Pro Tips
— Custom Tooltips
Build a tooltip page for deeper drill-through.
— Use Dropdown Slicers
Cleaner layout and saves space.
— Bookmark Magic
Use bookmarks for storytelling and layered visuals.
— Keep it Consistent
Use themes and a layout grid for visual polish.
DAX Magic
— SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR() for YoY comparisons
SalesLY = CALCULATE([Total Sales], SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR('Date'[Date]))— Dynamic Titles
"Sales for " & SELECTEDVALUE('Region'[RegionName])Productivity Boosters
— Quick Measures
Great for fast insights.
— Use External Tools
• Tabular Editor for mass measure edits
• DAX Studio for performance diagnostics
— Keyboard Shortcuts
• Ctrl + Shift + C: Copy visual as image
• Alt + Shift + F: Focus mode
TL;DR Downloadable PDF
Want this as a one-pager? Grab the cheat sheet here
Download Power BI Tips Cheat Sheet (PDF)
What’s Your #1 Power BI Tip?
Let’s grow this list! Drop a comment with your favorite Power BI trick